Cabinet for sewing-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A H TROYKE CABINETv FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

No. 560,380. Patented May 19, 1896.

F N\ T cw l W w 0 W fi+m 1C ANDREW GHANA MJHUYOUTNRWASHINGTDILDE.

I (No Model.) I I 2 SheetsSheet 2.

V A. H. TROY'KE. GABINBT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

1.... 6 V W W e m 1 m fi [U r" d w a m w m w W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. TROYKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

CABINET FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,380, dated. May 19, 1896.

Application filed January 19, 1894. Serial No. 497,380. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. TROYKE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cabinets for Sewing-Machines, &c. and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sewingmachine cabinets of that class in which the machine when not in use is adapted to be lowered or depressed beneath the level of the top of the cabinet and to be returned to its normal elevated position when it is again desired to place the machine in readiness for operation.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction in devices of the character referred to 5 and it consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention, the cabinet being thrown open and the machine raised into operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, the back of the cabinet being removed to disclose the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail on line 4 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail of the locking-bolt and connections. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of one of the bracketcastings removed. p

A designates the base of the cabinet, A and A its right and left side walls, and A and A, respectively, its front and rear walls, the front wall being usually composed of two hinged doors, which swing open, as shown in Fig. 1, to expose the interior of the cabinet.

A designates the cabinet-top, which is cut out centrally to provide a rectangular aperture alarge enough to permit the sewing-machine B to pass through without coming in contact with the edges thereof.

The machine B is carried by a bracket 0, comprising a horizontal shelf 0, fitting within the aperture to, and the center of which is Suitably cut out to receive the base B of the machine. The shelf C, as herein shown, rests upon corner-braces G which are in this instance connected at their rear and vertical portions by parallel plates or boards C and C the braces being provided with inwardlyturned parallel flanges c and c to which said boards or plates are screwed. The bracket thus provided is adapted to slide between downwardly-extending parallel guides D, herein shown as comprising wooden bars D, secured at their upper and lower ends to the top and base, respectively, of the cabinet and at the rear thereof. Along the upper portion of the bars and arranged edgewise in front of and parallel to the same are provided metallic ways D having their lower ends bent or extended rearwardly and provided with flanges d, which are secured by screws to the fronts of the bars D, about midway of the length of the same. The upper ends d of the ways are herein shown as bent atright angles and secured by screws to the under side of the top A Antifriction-rollers c journaled to the lower ends of the braces 0 engage and travel upon the lower front faces of the bars D, and similar rollers 0 j ournaled to the upper rear portions of the braces 0 project behind and engage the rear faces of the ways D thereby preventing the bracket from falling forward away from the guides. Integral arms 0 and c on the braces extending around the rollers c and 0 respectively, serve to support the outer ends of their bearing-pins c, the arms 0 being made long enough to extend around the ways D as shown in Fig. 7.

As a meansof counterbalancing the weight of the machine B and its supporting-bracket O, compression-springs E are herein shown provided upon guide-rods E, which in this instance are secured at their lower ends in the base A and extend upward parallel to the guides D, passing between the plates C and G of the bracket 0. A horizontal cross piece or bar, 0", secured to and extending between the upper rear portions of the braces 0 immediately beneath and at the rear of the shelf 0, rests upon the spring E, being provided with suitable perforations 0 through which the bars E pass. Washers c are shown as inserted between the lower face of the bar C and the tops of the springs E to receive any wear occurring at these points. The springs E are preferably made of such strength and resilience as to be capable of supporting the bracket 0 and machine B nearly or quite in their uppermost position, while at the same time readily compressible sufficiently to permit the lowering of the bracket and machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As a means of locking the bracket Gin its raised and lowered positions I have in this instance provided a bolt F, extending laterally through one of the guide-bars D and adapted to engage the adjacent brace C of the bracket O. As herein shown, said bolt is made with a reduced shank f, provided with a coiled spring f, which is compressed between the head of the bolt anda plate (Z covering the outer end of the bolt-aperture and perforated for the passage of the shank f. The outer end of the shank engages an aperture in the upper end of a bell-crank lever F, which is pivoted at its angle to a bearing 01 on the bar D, the end of the shank being enlarged to form a head f by which the lever is maintained in engagement therewith. Said bell-crank lever is itself actuated by means of a push-rod F engaging its outer end and extending up through an aperture in the top of the cabinet. The head f of the push-rod F is in this instance enlarged and cut off substantially flush with the upper surface of the top A and forms in effeet a push-button, by pressing on which the bolt may be withdrawn. YVhen the bracket 0 is fully depressed, the bolt F projects over the top of the adjacent brace 0 and holds the bracket down. hen the bracket is fully raised, the bolt enters an aperture 0 suitably provided in said brace, and maintains the bracket in that position. Obviously by reason of the spring f the bolt will automatically lock the bracket whenever the latter is forced to either its raised or lowered position and will be maintained in engagement therewith until released by pressure upon the head f of the push-rod.

The driving-wheel G of the machine is herein shown journaled upon a suitable bearing Gr, attached by screws or otherwise securely fastened to the side wall A of the cabinet, and is driven in the usual manner by a treadle G pivotally mounted upon the base A of the cabinet and connected with the wheel G by the usual connecting-rod G. Obviously the d rivin g-pulley B of the machine B, when the latter is raised into its operative position, must stand directly above the wheel G in order that a driving-belt 1?; maybe trained over them, said belt passing through suitably-an ranged apertures c in the shelf 0. In order, however, that the base of the machine and the shelf 0 may clear the wheel G when in lowered position, it is necessary that they should stand so far out from the wall A as to bring the pulley B out of the alinement required. The guides D, therefore, for the purpose of shifting the machine laterally, so as to bring the pulley 13 directly over the wheel G when the machine is raised, and

avoid collision with said driving-wheel when the machine is lowered, are somewhat inclined from the vertical, standing farther from the wall A at their lower than at their upper ends. By this construction the necessary lateral movement of the machine and shelf A obviously must accompany the raising and lowering of the bracket.

A leaf or lid A, hinged to the one edge of the top A, is adapted to fold down upon the latter and conceal the aperture a when the machine is lowered, and is turned back, as

shown in Fig. 1, to enlarge the working surface of the cabinet-top before the machine is to be brought into operation.

\Vhen the machine is depressed, the doors A closed, and the leaf A folded down upon the permanent top A the cabinet is in condition to be used as a table or desk or for any other suitable purpose and betrays no evidence of the mechanism inclosed within. The exterior of the cabinet may be ornamented as desired and the cabinet thus be made a pleasing article of furniture. To bring the machine into use, it is only necessary to throw over the leaf A and press upon the button or exposed end f of the operating-rod F when the bracket 0 will be released and the springs E will instantly act to raise the shelf 0 substantially flush with the top A. As soon as the shelf reaches this position, either solely by the actuating impulse of the springs E or when the latter are aided by the hand, the locking-bolt F slips into the aperture 0*, as hereinbefore described, and thereby locks the machine in its operative position. The doors A being then thrown open to expose the treadle G and the driving-belt adjusted the machine is adapted for operation in the ordinary manner. \Vhen it is desired to inclose the machine again, the button f is again pressed to disengage the locking-bolt F and the machine and bracket O forced down against the springs E until the bolt F automatically locks said bracket in its lowest position. The leaf A may then be folded over upon the top A and the doors A closed. The mechanism is then completely inclosed, and as the machine 13 is securely and rigidly sup ported the complete device will be in shape for shipment without the necessity of separating the machine from the cabinet.

Obviously, though herein set forth as particularly applicable to a sewing-machine cabinet, many of the features of my invention may in some cases be advantageously employed in the construction of cabinets for type-writing machines and other instruments, and all such constructions are contemplated as embraced within the scope of my invention. Moreover, it will be understood that so far as the other features of my invention are concerned the counterbalancing of the machine and its supporting-table may be accomplished by weights instead of springs, or by tension-springs, or

by springs otherwise located than in the particular construction herein illustrated. Ob-

viously also, while the greater part of the cabinet is designed to be ordinarily constructed of wood, a few minor parts only being advantageously made of metal, any other suitable material may be substituted in either case, if so desired. All such and other obvious modifications are, however, within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A machine-cabinet, provided in its top with an aperture through which a machine can pass, downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet a movable bracket-shelf having a machine -supportin g portion fitting within said aperture and a vertical portion engaging said downwardly-extending guides and compression-springs beneath the shelf, extending parallel with said guides and pressing upward on said shelf to counterbalance the weight of the machine and said shelf, substantially as described.

2. A machine-cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through which the machine can pass, abracket havingamachine-supporting shelf fitting within said aperture, downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet having upper rearwardly-facin g surfaces and lower forwardly-facing surfaces, upper antifriction-rollers on said bracket engaging said reaiwvardly-facing surfaces, and lower antifriction-rollers on said bracket engaging said forwardly-facing surfaces, substantially as described.

A machine-cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through which the machine can pass, a bracket having a machine-supporting shelf fitting within said aperture, downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet comprising bars having ways secured parallel to and in front of their upper portions, upper antifriction-rollers on the bracket engaging the rear faces of said ways and lower antifric-.

tion-rollers on the bracket engaging the front surfaces of the bars below the ways, substantially as described.

4. A machine-cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through which the machine can pass, a bracket having a machine-supporting shelf fitting within said aperture and engaging downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet, compression springs mounted on rods extending parallel with said guides and pressing upward on said bracket, substantially as described.

5. A machine-cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through. which the machine can pass, a machine-carryin g bracket fitting within said aperture and movablysupported upon downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet by springs located within the cabinet parallel with said guides, a spring-bolt for locking said bracket in its raised or lowered position and a rod for actuating said bolt, substantially as described.

(3. A machine-cabinet providedin its top with an aperture through which a machine can pass, a machine-carrying bracket fitting within said aperture and normallysupported upon downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet, compression-springs beneath the bracket and located parallel with said guides for counterbalancing the weight of the machine and bracket and normally raising the latter, a spring-bolt for locking said bracket in its raised or lowered position, and a pushrod for actuating said bolt, the end of the push-rod extending through an aperture in the top of the cabinet, substantially as described.

7. A sewing-machine cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through which the machine can pass, a driving-wheel journaled .within the cabinet beneath one end of the aperture, a machine-carrying shelf fitting within said aperture and normally supported upon downwardly-extending guides with said cabinet, said guides inclining away from the driving-wheel toward their lower edges,wherebywhen raised in operative position the machine will stand with its driving-pulley above the driving-wheel, but will be shifted laterally to clear said wheel as it is lowered, and compression-springs located in the cabinet beneath the shelf parallel to said inclined guides to normally tend to raise the shelf and the machine thereon to its upper or operative position, substantially as described.

8. A machine-cabinet provided in its top with an aperture through which the machine can pass, a machine-support engaging downwardly-extending guides within the cabinet and counterbalancing compression springs beneath the support parallelwith said guides and pressing upward on the support substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT II. TROYKE.

Witnesses:

0. GLARENOE PooLE, ALBERT H. GRAVES. 

